What's the best way to stop water from entering here?

TJK · Nov 28, 2021

Been tracking a rainwater leak entering passenger footwell and I think I found the source. Foam gasket where cabin air assembly meets back panel if the footwell seems to get saturated and leak down.

What’s the best way to stop water from entering here?

Moglocker · Nov 28, 2021

TJK said:
Been tracking a rainwater leak entering passenger footwell and I think I found the source. Foam gasket where cabin air assembly meets back panel if the footwell seems to get saturated and leak down.

What’s the best way to stop water from entering here?

View attachment 293016

View attachment 293017

View attachment 293018

That foam gasket is only made to keep some dust out,take the cowl off behind the hood

TJK · Nov 28, 2021

Moglocker said:
That foam gasket is only made to keep some dust out,take the cowl off behind the hood

TJK · Nov 28, 2021

I took off the cowl and cleared the drain. Any suggestions as to where the water may be entering if thats the spot where it’s getting in?

Moglocker · Nov 28, 2021

the air comes in from the cowl,probably getting a little water in their,that’s not designed to get in,when it does get in it will find the least path of resistance

Moglocker · Nov 28, 2021

Moglocker said:
the air comes in from the cowl,probably getting a little water in their,that’s not designed to get in,when it does get in it will find the least path of resistance all tjs rust out there,I have already repaired my floor.probably would have to remove the heater box and reseal it to the tub to fix it,easier to buy these

OldBuzzard · Nov 28, 2021

If I recall, the '97 TJ had a wide 3-section vent in front of the windshield, letting water dump right down into the HVAC system. Later models changed that. I don't know if blocking part of that 3-section wide vent would help. I think there were other factory changes.

My 2005 has a single vent section in the middle of the cowl, instead of the 3-section on the 1997. And it has this plastic guard over the HVAC downtube.

I think I remember reading about someone making their own rain guard kind of like this one. If I can find the reference I'll post it.

Fluxor · Nov 28, 2021

Could be coming from a few areas. My 04 LJ has the same-ish issue. Please post your fix if and when you find it.

TJK · Nov 29, 2021

TJK said:
I took off the cowl and cleared the drain. Any suggestions as to where the water may be entering if thats the spot where it’s getting i

oldbuzzard said:
If I recall, the '97 TJ had a wide 3-section vent in front of the windshield, letting water dump right down into the HVAC system. Later models changed that. I don't know if blocking part of that 3-section wide vent would help. I think there were other factory changes.

My 2005 has a single vent section in the middle of the cowl, instead of the 3-section on the 1997. And it has this plastic guard over the HVAC downtube.
View attachment 293056

I think I remember reading about someone making their own rain guard kind of like this one. If I can find the reference I'll post it.

You're right. My 97 has three vents in the cowl and no cover on the cabin air intake. Water can definitely enter through the open intake but I'm still not sure if that's the true source. If it were then I would assume the water would enter through the foot vent, though I could be wrong. The gasket around the intake is pretty worn out so I may just seal that up to begin with, though part of me does want to just flood that intake with water and see if it starts pouring in...

TJK · Nov 29, 2021

Does anyone know where this section (with the foam gasket in the pics) connects on the other side of the upper floor pan? I'm looking at a video by Bleepin Jeep

he has the whole assembly out but I can't quite figure out where this piece is on the assembly?

JEEPCJTJ · Nov 30, 2021

3:48 shows the location of it on the other side of the heater box. If you're looking for where it is when in the Jeep, it's somewhat hidden below the battery.

A few months ago I took this picture of some wear marks I could actually feel on my AC accumulator because the super fat wiring harness had been rubbing on it for maybe 15 yrs? Anyway, the battery is out and you can see part of the curved thing that Bleepin Jeep guy calls the down tube. It's at least a few inches below my two fingers that are blocking some view, if they were out of the way we'd probably see the whole thing.

I kinda doubt that rain water is entering the Jeep through that area, mainly because I don't think much, if any, rain water would get there to begin with.

TJK said:
I took off the cowl and cleared the drain. Any suggestions as to where the water may be entering if thats the spot where it’s getting in?

Was the drain plugged up? If it was, the water that wasn't draining out needed to go somewhere. Of course even if it is draining that doesn't mean something else isn't causing your water issue.

TJK said:
The gasket around the intake is pretty worn out so I may just seal that up to begin with, though part of me does want to just flood that intake with water and see if it starts pouring in...

I'm not sure what you actually mean with "just flood that intake with water" but if you pour water into the heater box it should leak right out through the down tube thing. Spraying water around the cowl/air intake area with someone else's head under the dashboard should help them find out where the leak is. Just start slow, if you spray too much water everywhere at the beginning and it immediately leaks you'll only have narrowed the leak's location down to just about anywhere.

MikekiM · Nov 30, 2021

JEEPCJTJ said:
View attachment 293376

What is the canister pictured ?

You mentioned AC accumulator. I have the canister, but don't have AC.

JEEPCJTJ · Nov 30, 2021

MikekiM said:
What is the canister pictured ?

You mentioned AC accumulator. I have the canister, but don't have AC.

I think that canister is the AC accumulator. Maybe it's really something else but it's part of the AC, which I know little about.

MikekiM · Nov 30, 2021

JEEPCJTJ said:
I think that canister is the AC accumulator. Maybe it's really something else but it's part of the AC, which I know little about.

hhmmmm... odd.

I know most TJs are wired for stuff they may or may not actually have, but that seems like a big ticket item to install unless the rig actually has AC.

TJK · Nov 30, 2021

JEEPCJTJ said:
3:48 shows the location of it on the other side of the heater box. If you're looking for where it is when in the Jeep, it's somewhat hidden below the battery.

A few months ago I took this picture of some wear marks I could actually feel on my AC accumulator because the super fat wiring harness had been rubbing on it for maybe 15 yrs? Anyway, the battery is out and you can see part of the curved thing that Bleepin Jeep guy calls the down tube. It's at least a few inches below my two fingers that are blocking some view, if they were out of the way we'd probably see the whole thing.

View attachment 293376

I kinda doubt that rain water is entering the Jeep through that area, mainly because I don't think much, if any, rain water would get there to begin with.

Was the drain plugged up? If it was, the water that wasn't draining out needed to go somewhere. Of course even if it is draining that doesn't mean something else isn't causing your water issue.

I'm not sure what you actually mean with "just flood that intake with water" but if you pour water into the heater box it should leak right out through the down tube thing. Spraying water around the cowl/air intake area with someone else's head under the dashboard should help them find out where the leak is. Just start slow, if you spray too much water everywhere at the beginning and it immediately leaks you'll only have narrowed the leak's location down to just about anywhere.

Thank you for the picture and the thorough post. I know that water is somehow getting to that joint and flowing down the back panel onto the floor. When I checked under the cowl the drain was actually quite clear. I cleaned it out anyway with a wire coathanger and flushed with a few gallons of water but there was very little debris to be found there. I have seen on this forum that a few members have sealed up that same foam gasket area from the inside but I'd like to find how its getting there in the first place.

It's raining another "atmospheric river" here today so I'll be inspecting and keeping this thread posted.

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What's the best way to stop water from entering here?

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